I don't know how many of you guys saw LeBron's high school game tonight. But I did hear some commentary from Jay Bilas coming from one NBA scout saying something to the extent of "James would have been the #1 pick in last years draft". I was impressed with James but i'm still not so sure the Rockets wouldn't have picked him. I still think the Rockets would have made Yao the #1 pick. I must admit that would have been a pretty nice dilema had it happened that way. Go Rockets!!!!!
I think the last thing the rocks need on this team is a highschool player. They need to stick to their core and work on it, and need a veteren presense more than a highschool kid....not dissing EG...(he was a highschool kid wasnt he?)
I wouldve picked LeBron James. He is going to a great player. However, greatness has many facets just like there are various ways to gauge intelligence. Yao can dominate the game down low with his great height, skilled passing, and shooting touch. James is unbelievably athletic for a 17 year old who passes first and scores second. They will probably be both great players the way Jordan and Olajuwon were. However, no matter how great a player is, for fans its all about championships.
I agree with you Uprising. That's why I say that the Rockets still would have picked Ming. But that James would have been extremely hard to pass on (had he been there of course).
Eddie Griffin is nowhere near as good as LeBron James. His passes were amazing and he had great quickness to the basket. Plus in the 3rd and 4th quarter he showed a very nice arching jump shot (Eddie's looks horrible) Plus James right now at age 17 is stronger than Eddie. Eddie can become a good player but he's not in that guy's class.
Oh definetly. The boy has got skilz. but, Me I would have taken the chance with taking the 7'5" Chinese Center, Yao Ming who has played in the olympics, taken on the USA's best, and is also very young...BUT he has had alot of experience playing pro. Though I would have been rapped by accusations on how bad/stupid it was to pick Yao over James...since yao was not impressive at first because he wasnt accustomed and missed the couple of weeks of practice before the season. But Yao would have proved them all wrong (the doubters) like he has now. Yao is the man.
True, but LeBron does not equal Jordan. There is no way to know whether LeBron can bring championships like michael, and even after watchin him play, I still think Yao Ming along with Francis will be more capable of winning championships.
Well, I guess this would be just like the Michael and Hakeem draft. We draft the big guy, who brings us all the way...and the smaller guy does the same for the other team....hopefully not exaclty like the jordan hakeem way...unless the other way around.
It really depends on the supporting cast. Jordan was really lucky they got Pippen and Horace Grant. Pippen was traded on game day from Seattle for Brad Sellers or some other schmuck (worse than the Vince Carter - Antwan Jamison swap). Hakeem was surrounded by better players early in his career then languished behind the horrible mismangment of Ray Patterson (his son was so much better and did not deserve to be fired by Les). Just remember, there is no right answer - Would you rather have Nicole Kidman or Halle Berry (Id like both please) These could be the 2 best players to come into the league for the next 5-10 years - Im just happy to get Yao.
Someone else posted this on the espn board: It was an interview on Jim Rome and Rome asked West what he thought of Yao and would he try to trade up to get him, West said, "I have offered the number 4 pick(Drew Gooden) Stromile Swift, Pau Gasol, Lorenzen Wright, Michael Dickerson and Jayson Williams, in exchange for their players who are running up the cap and need to be dumped like Glen Rice, Mo Taylor, etc. in exchange for the number one pick to get Yao. Houston declined." Then Rome asked West if he were still with the Lakers would he try to get Yao? West said, "yes." Then Rome asked how would he have gone about getting that number one pick when all the Lakers really had to offer was Shaq and Kobe, or Horry, who lives in Houston, but since they have a log jam they would not want Horry, meaning Kobe or Shaq would be the only ones to trade for Ming. West replied, "I would do what I had to get Yao." So he never actually said he offered to trade Kobe or would trade Kobe, he simply said he would do what he had to to get Yao, if he was still with the Lakers he could have done so, but not with Memphis. To me Rome saying it could only be Shaq or Kobe, West saying he would do what he had to, either he meant exchanging big men, which is unlikey, or he meant Kobe saying bye.
I would like to know the source of the quote. If West is truly SURE that Yao is the next big one after Shaq, I think he would either trade Shaq or Kobe, it does not matter. Trading Shaq of course would mean the Lakers won't win this year, but given Ming and Kobe are so young, they can win a lot of championships together. Plus, Shaq would free so much Cap money, Ming is only $4 mil/year. By the way, Shaq is really getting old and heavy, Kobe also has a lot of injuries.
I highly doubt that's really what West said. Drew Gooden, Stromile Swift, Pau Gasol, Lorenzen Wright, Michael Dickerson and Jayson Williams for Yao? that's the whole Memphis squard!
It'd be cool if someone go and get the pay access to jim rome's show archive and encode it as mp3 to share with others.
True, but LeBron does not equal Jordan. There is no way to know whether LeBron can bring championships like michael, and even after watchin him play, I still think Yao Ming along with Francis will be more capable of winning championships. --------------------------------------------- Well to be fair to Lebron we would have to consider his potential team and the players that surround him. Here are a few teams that have a shot at Lebron. I am not considering a trade for the #1 when determing these teams b/c I think whoever wins the lottery wont even think about trading that pick. Cleveland - IF Wagner becomes the next Iverson like many predict and Lebron lives up to the hype. And they Keep their other studs(Davis Miles) ..that is a potential great team In my opinion would be just as talented as the Rockets say 5 years from now. Both teams would be contenders year in and year out. Memphis- Gooden Gasol and James. Wow that would be incredible. Defintely would be a force for years to come. Frontcourt is great and backcourt is awsome once they get rid of white choclate. Denver- Skizi Hiliario James. I honestly know very little about the Denver nuggets(who does). Skitzi has been compared to Dirk Hiliario not sure. Would be a nice team if skitzi and Hilario arent busts. Miami- Butler and ? Might be the worst place for James to go, Miami has amazing passing skills but who to pass to? seats are empty and the roster has little talent. New York- For James finacially this is the best place to be, once he hits his prime. He would be one of the most popular athetes in all of sprts. But this is a team with little talent and its best players are way past their prime. And come May you bet we will hear the Lottery is fixed if the Knicks win it. Toronto- Ill throw them in there b/c it appears theyre done and Vince looks like he wont play half the games this year. If James should land here. And Vince gets healthy again. Lookout the rest of the league. (TMAC and VINCE) situation again can Vince handle it thist time? Chicago- I think theyre alot better than their record but who knows with the bulls. James Chandler Curry Jay Will. Congrats Jerry youve done it. you made your own dynasty. Team would have unlimited potential. Better than MJ's bulls??? It would be interesting. They're some other teams that have a chance but I consider these the front runners. Just think it would be fair to consider James and his future teammates. I do think Yao and Francis has just as much potential as james and _____. I just hope he lands in the East so the Rockets dont have the kid till they get to the Finals.
Right, think T-Mac and Grant Hill together and Hill is 100% healthy. Can they win a championship? Depend on the front court? Cleveland has better front court though.
Well, I'm very happy with Yao Ming! L. J. might become a great player someday, but the ROXS have already one in the making!! We all can debate the what ifs to death but there is no question that Yao Ming is the perfect fit for the ROXS!! Our center can pretty much do it all- score, pass, rebound, block shots, alter shots, steals, etc.. And he has a very high b-ball IQ!!! He also uses his left hand well! Yao Ming was also much hyped like L.J. and scouted heavily at an early age!!
lebron james is an amazing athlete. after watching some highlights from that game, i actually hope he doesn't land on the knicks cause if he does and mydyess comes back and they still have houston and sprewell, they're going to win the championship. i hope a team even worse than the knicks get him, so the rockets go on a championship winning spree and five peat by the time lebron is on a good team.
